I purchased my car preowned with 35K miles on it in April of 2016. As I began my BMW ownership, I kept thinking "where have you been all my life. I still love this car 6 years later.
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Introduction
Reviewed: 2013 BMW 3-Series
4dr Sedan turbocharged 240hp 2.0L I4 6-speed manual RWD
2013 BMW 3-Series Love Letter
The Ultimate Driving Machine. What other car is there that can have you cruising serenely with comfortable passengers one day, then be hooning about the next day? Every day that finds me behind the wheel of Mein Drei is a good day.
6 years and counting of ownership has given me thrills with the power, amazement at the 50/50 weight balance, and sensuous pleasure of an M-Sport steering wheel and Dakota Leather. I have the rare 6 speed manual transmission, which gives my 3 a fun to drive factor that no automatic 3 can match.
Aesthetically, my 3 is beautiful. My Sport Line car is Alabaster Silver with Shadowline Trim. It has the M-Sport suspension, so it sits just a little lower. The interior is black Dakota leather with red piping and stitching. The dash has real aluminum trim with red accents. My car feels special.
Dare I say my 3 has been reliable too? I do. How?
My three point plan for having a reliable BMW:
1) Keep up with your maintenance - change your oil every 5K miles.
2) Drive it often, every day if possible.
3) Drive it like you stole it. An Italian tune up a day will keep the carbon deposits away.
Why wouldn't you buy it?
It is an F30. In a vacuum, it feels great, but if you have driven E46 and E90, you know what BMW steering used to feel like. It has a turbo 4, not one of the sonorus BMW inline sixes.
Still, don't sleep on the F30. If you are a devotee to three pedals, it is the last 3 in which you can get a manual. G20? Nope. You have to go all the way up to an M3 or M4.
There is still BMW goodness here, and I would buy it again any day.
Conclusion
Who should buy this car? Someone looking for that balance of power, ride, and handling. Someone who loves BMW, so you will put up with the occasional niggle. You still want to shift your own gears.
Who shouldn't buy this car? If you are looking for bullet proof reliability, go to the Lexus dealer. Same if you are looking for a car to just get you from point A to point B.
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